Bicycle-brake



1 same.

Warren SIAIES Parent JAMES THOMAS wIIEv, orrn'ns'ron, ILLINOIS.

BICYCLE-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,541, dated September 27, 1 898.

Application filed September 24,1897- Serial No. 652,869. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

a citizen of the United States, residingat Preston, in the county of Randolph and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycle-Brakes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in brakes, and has more particular relation to a bicycle-brake.

The invention consists in certain novel c011- structions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, all of which will be hereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a top plan view of a portion of a bicycle pro vided with my improvement. Fig.- 2 represents a central vertical section through the my improved brake attachment, and Fig. 4 represents a top plan View of the air-cylinder and valve.

1 in the drawings represents the bicycleframe, 2 the front wheel, and 3 my improved brake mechanism. The frame 1 of the bicycle and wheel 2 are of the usual construction, with the exception that the latter is provided at one side with an eccentric 4, about which passes an eccentric-strap 5. This strap is formed at its front with a sooketed ing 6, in which the end of an angular piston-rod 7. is rigidly secured. This rod 7 is provided with a suitable piston 8, having any suitable form of peripheral packing and mounted in the cylinder 9. This cylinder is closed at both ends and is supported bya yoke 10, which is pivotally connected thereto and is adapted to clamp about one of the bars of the bicyclefork. The said cylinder 9 is provided near each end with a port or opening 11, adapted to open communication with the interior of the opposite ends of said cylinder. Said cylind-er is further provided near each end with a strap or loop 12, said straps or loops forming guides for a slide or valve 13, which latter is adapted to normally cover the openings 11 11 and is provided with an opening 14. This opening is adapted to be brought into aline- Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of ment with one of the openings 11 and thus permit free ingress and egress of air to the cylinder,the opposite end of said valve passing a from over the remaining opening 11. Said slide 13 is normally held so that the openings 11 and let coinoidebya rod 15, pivotally connected thereto and adapted to be operated by suitable pivoted rods and levers mounted upon the bicycle-frame and provided with the usual brake-spring. These operating rods and levers may be of any desired construction, as they do not form any part of my present invention.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the ports 11 11 are normally open, so that the action of the piston 8 within the cylinder 9 is free and unretarded. This piston moves continually while the machine is in motion because of the peculiar connection between the piston-rod 7 and the eccen trio 4, carried by the driving-wheel. When it is desired to stop the wheel, the brake-lever, which is mounted on the handle-bar of the bicycle, is operated, thus forcing the slide 13 forwardly and causing the apertures 11 to be closed. The motion of the piston 8 now compresses the air on both strokes, and thus resists the forward movement of the wheel to such an extent that the bicycle is readily brought to a standstill. The valve by preference is fitted somewhat loosely, so that a portion of the air may escape at both strokes of the piston, which prevents the compression and expansion of air within the cylinder, which would in a measure compensate and serve during one stroke of the piston to drive the wheel, thus compensating for the resistanoe caused by the other stroke. As the action between the piston-rod and the eccentric mounted on the wheel causes a slight rocking movement of said piston-rod, I provide the before-mentioned pivoted yoke-support 10, which permits of the cylinder 9 rocking back and forth to the desired extent.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that by the employment of my invention a perfect air-brake is secured which does not practically interfere with the usual movements of the machine, but may be instantly thrown into gear, so as to retard said movements. It will further be observed that the braking action does not in any wise injure the tire or any other portion of the wheel, as said braking mechanism does not contact With the tire or other fragile part of the machine at all. The action of the piston within the cylinder 9 is such that the forward motion of the wheel is gradually checked, so that all sliding of said wheel and consequent injury to the tire is avoided. The heads of the said cylinder 9 are preferably removable, so that the interior of the cylinder may be cleaned and the packing of the piston renewed or repaired from time to time.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a bicycle-brake, a cylinder having ports at or near each end, a slide-valve for simultaneously opening and approximately closing said ports, an operating-rod for said valve, a piston within the cylinder, and a piston-rod having provision for its connection to a movable part of the machine, substantially as described.

2. In a bicycle-brake, a cylinder, a clamp having pivotal connection therewith and adapted to embrace a part of the machine, a slide-valve for simultaneously covering loosely the ports at the opposite ends of the cylinder, an operating-rod for said valve, 'a' piston within the cylinder, a piston-rod connected thereto, and an eccentric-strap at the outer end of said piston adapted to be actuated by an eccentric on one, of the machinespecification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' JAMES THOMAS WILEY.

Witnesses:

ARCHIBALD HoYNE, WILLIAM P. WILSON. 

